Acts - Week 51

Week 51 Acts 15, 16 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 15:39-41 

39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. 

Paul and Barnabas separated because they could not agree about taking along Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, as their helper. Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus, the home area of  Barnabas.. Paul chose Silas who had previously gone back to Jerusalem so Paul must have contacted him to come join him. Then Paul and Silas went through the area strengthening the churches there. 

REFLECT 

Is it your desire to encourage other believers even if you have to do it by yourself?  

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about the need to get along with other believers, but even if not, to proceed with the need to encourage other believers. To be one who builds up; not tearing down.  

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 16:1-2 

Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. 

It is uncertain whether Paul had met Timothy on the first missionary journey. This is now a significant connection between Paul and Timothy. Because Timothy’s mother was a believer she likely had a significant part in pointing him to Jesus. Mentioning that Timothy’s father was a Greek was a way of saying he was an unbeliever. Some are disappointed because both parents are not believers; Timothy was greatly used of God in spite of this.  

REFLECT 

Are either of your parents a believer? Are both of them? If not, this does not limit the way you can serve God. 

RESPOND 

Consider Abraham’s background. Read Joshua 24:2-4. Even though Abraham’s father was an idol worshipper, God greatly used Abraham. Children need not limited by the unbelief of parents.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 16:3-5 

3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day. 

The question is raised, “Why did Paul have Timothy circumcised when he refused to have Titus circumcised? (see Galatians 2:1-3). It seems the issue with Titus was whether it was necessary as part of the message of salvation; with Timothy it had to do with not being a hindrance in ministering to the Jewish people. Notice what they instructed believers: “to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.” The Bible is now our guide of what they taught. 

REFLECT 

Thank the Lord that in the Bible one has access to the teachings of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.  

RESPOND 

Because they did not have the full Bible, the early church relied on the oral teachings of the apostles. Read Acts 2 42 in this regard.  

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 16:6-8 

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia,  but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. 

Their travels took them to what is now Turkey. In this passage is seen the direction of the Holy Spirit in where Paul and Silas went to preach the gospel. This was divine strategic planning as the gospel was taken to the then-known world. Now the instructions are to take it to all nations; that is, all ethnic groups (see Matthew 28:18-20). Some can physically go; others can pray for and financially support those who go. 

REFLECT 

As you think of the need to reach all ethnic groups, are you praying for some doing this? Perhaps you can do this in the area where you live. 

RESPOND 

The United States has sent out many to tell the gospel in other nations; now it seems people from those nations and in the United States. Whether you are in the United States or some other country, talk with your disciple about taking the gospel to other ethnic groups. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 16:9-10 

9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. 

This refers to the gospel going to not only northern Greece but also to the greater area of Europe. Note the reference to “we”; it is thought that Luke, the human author of Acts, had now joined the group. They left “at once” because they concluded the gospel needed to be preached to this area. Their love for Jesus and the message of the gospel compelled them to go at once to share the gospel in this new area. 

REFLECT 

Do you sometimes feel the urging of the Holy Spirit to share the gospel with someone? Don’t put it off. You never know if you will have another chance to do so. 

RESPOND 

You and your disciple need to know about Luke, who joined the group. See Colossians 4:14 that gives insight into his qualifications. He is also the human author of both the gospel of Luke and Acts.